#NextGenATP Michelsen 'weasels' into Newport QFs

#NextGenATP Alex Michelsen is aiming to go one step further than last year's runner-up finish at the Infosys Hall of Fame Open, where on Tuesday the third seed defeated 2022 champion Maxime Cressy 6-4, 6-4.

Seeded at an ATP Tour event for the first time, the 19-year-old began his Newport campaign in the same way he did in 2023: beating countryman Cressy, though Michelsen received a first-round bye this year.

Michelsen, World No. 61 in the PIF ATP Rankings, broke Cressy's serve to love at 3-3 in both sets and fended off the two break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to improve to 2-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with the 27-year-old.

"I really like that I didn't get my serve broken. A couple tight service games, he played a couple really good return games and I was able to weasel out," said Michelsen. "Really fortunate to get out of this one four and four. Max is a very tough out on grass. Really happy with the win."

Into his fourth quarter-final of the year, Michelsen next faces another American: Aleksandar Kovacevic, who overcame seventh seed Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Michelsen is fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. The California native is aiming for a return trip to the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, which runs from 18-22 December in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

Reilly Opelka continued his comeback in his first ATP Tour appearance since 2022 Washington by upsetting top seed and defending champion Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. The 6'11" wild card hammered 19 aces to advance to his first grass-court quarter-final.

Opelka will meet Mackenzie McDonald in the last eight. The 29-year-old beat Billy Harris 6-3, 6-4 and dropped just two points behind his first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Fourth seed Christopher Eubanks rallied past wild card Ethan Quinn 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3 to reach his second quarter-final of the season. The American also reached the last eight on the Halle grass last month. Up next for Eubanks is sixth seed Aleksandar Vukic, who ousted wild card Eliot Spizzirri 6-2, 7-6(3). Aussie qualifier Alex Bolt also advanced with a 7-6(2), 6-4 win against fifth seed Brandon Nakashima.